STUD STOCK

Southland Times, Issue 22295, 10 April 1934, Page 5

STUD STOCK

WHY AN EMBARGO? SCOTTISH FARMER’S VIEWS OTHER OBSERVATIONS A firm belief in the future greatness of Australia, a high regard for the productivity of Southland s pastures, and a poor opinion of legislators who prohibit the importation into New Zealand of pedigree stock from Britain are held by Mr R. J. Forrest, a Scottish farmer, who spent the week-end in Invercargill in the course of an extended world tour. Mr Forrest’s estate, “Preston,” is situated 40 miles from Edinburgh and consists of 2000 acres on which cattle and sheep are reared and a large amount of cropping undertaken. Accompanied by his daughter, he left Scotland last October to visit Australia and New Zealand, the United States and Canada. During his stay in Southland he visited the well-known farms of Mr R. J. Anderson, Kauana, and Mr A, S. Holms, Waimahaka. Reminded Of Scotland. “Southland reminds me very much of Scotland,” Mr Forrest told a reporter. “You have some very nice land here and you have the advantage over us that it is not under frost, for four months of the year. I think your grasslands will carry as many stock to the acre as any similar land in the world.” Though he conceded that he had seen some very nice Border Leicesters at Mr Anderson’s farm, Mr Forrest reminded the reporter that Scotland produced the best Border Leicesters in the world. In fact it was, he declared, no exaggeration to say that at Home the best of all the breeds were reared. “I am not qualified to speak concerning the Romneys and the Hereford cattle I saw at Waimahaka,” he said. “In my district we go in for neither of these. The Romney arc down in the South of England while we in Scotland don’t regard Herefords in the same class as Aberdeen Angus for beef purposes. They are too big. Butchers don’t want great joints of beef. It is no use your farmers thinking they can compete with their frozen lamb and mutton and chilled beef with the meat grown in Britain. Of course I know meat has to be imported, but it is inferior to that grown at Home.” Inquiries revealed that farm land in Berwickshire is cheaper than in Southland—a rather surprising disclosure. Mr Forrest said that the heavy taxation had made it very difficult for British farmers to balance their budgets. It often happened to-day that a farm which changed hands at, say, £3OOO, contained buildings which alone were worth far more than this sum. “If your New Zealand farmers think they are badly off I can assure them that they are not a whit worse than farmers in Britain,” declared Mr Forrest. His reply to a query concerning quotas showed that he considered farming and politics did not mix. “Better ask the Minister of Agriculture,” he added. “He may be able to tell you when we can rely on quotas remaining fixed.” Australia’s Potentialities. “Australia will one day be the greatest country in the world,” said Mr Forrest whose four months’ stay there made him a great admirer of the Commonwealth. He visited all the States, spending a lot of time travelling through their hinterland as well as living in their capitals. Queensland particularly impressed him, there being great opportunities in this state for young men of courage and energy. Near Albury he saw the vast damming project which is to flood an area three and a-half times that of the Sydney Harbour in order that land at present lying waste will be brought under cultivation by means of irrigation. In many other directions he saw evidence of the enterprise of the Australians and of their faith in the future of their country—a faith in which he shared. He was a spectator at the Sydney Royal Show which concluded last week, and witnessed the jumping contests which were attended by so many mishaps, including that to the Southlander, Mr W. J. McLaren. He was most favourably impressed with the way the grand parade was stage-managed, but he was less enthusiastic concerning the stock. “As for cattle,” he concluded, “why in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales or Queensland I saw not a beast to compare with what we have in Scotland.” Embargo Criticized. Reverting to the Dominion and the laws which forbid the importation of stock from Britain, Mr Forrest said that he considered such restriction absolutely unwarranted. No country in the world took such precautions to prevent disease in stock as Britain, and provided there were quarantining before departure and on arrival, he considered stock could be imported without any fear of disease being introduced. He stressed the necessity for purebred stock from Britain being added to the herds of the Dominion and expressed the view that Southland, or rather New Zealand, breeders were at a serious disadvantage in being limited to Canada for outside blood stock. “I believe,” he continued, “that there is more danger of disease being introduced to New Zealand from straw wrappings from Denmark than from stock from Britain. Does your Government know that all animals in an infected area in Britain have to be slaughtered and burnt within 24 hours, and all movement of stock within an area of 15 miles radius is absolutely prohibited. This is in marked contrast to the procedure on the Continent. Altogether I think the New Zealand Government has imagined a bogey where none exists, greatly to the disadvantage of New Zealand breeders.” Mr Forrest concluded the interview by expressing warm appreciation of the kindness and hospitality extended to him during his stay in Southland.